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Research Groups

Chemometrics And Metrology Group (CMG) - Research Interests

Metrology in Chemistry

Metrology in chemistry (MIC) is a new and expanding subject which focuses on how to obtain valid analytical measurement results. Trade concerns over pesticides in meat exports, heavy metals in food, antibiotic residues and so on have produced a number of examples of very costly analytical mistakes. The theory of metrologically traceable measurement results, how to estimate measurement uncertainty (see "Uncertainty of Measurement" below), and how to decide if two samples come from the same source are some of the areas in which my group has taken an interest. My project with IUPAC on metrological traceability (see "Traceability chain" below) of measurement results and various interests with the National Measurement Institute (NMI) make our group the main academic focus for metrology in chemistry in Australia. On the practical side our Ph.D. student, Kittiya Muaksang, is developing a reference method for the analysis of nitro-furan residues in food. Greg O'Donnell, who works for Testsafe Australia (part of Workcover, NSW), has developed practical approaches to estimating measurement uncertainty for batch analyses in which run bias can be measured.

Book cover - Quality Assurance in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

In the University I have developed, coordinate, and teach a postgraduate program Chemical Analysis and Laboratory Management. In this we have a course on quality assurance and laboratory management (CHEM7111, see "quality assurance and laboratory management" below) dealing with various aspects of metrology and how to run a laboratory. I have published the material I have been teaching in this course and aspects of research in my new book 'Quality Assurance in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory.'

Uncertainty of Measurement

If y = f(xi) and we know u(xi), what is u(y)?

where uc(y) is the combined standard uncertainty, ∂y/∂xi is the sensitivity coefficient (ci) and ri,k is the correlation coefficient. The double sum term is zero if the xi are independent.

Traceability Chain

Traceability chain

Quality Assurance and Laboratory Management

Quality systems